Shock absorber



April 17, 1945.A G. E. BATH SHOCK ABSORBER Filed Sept. 24, 1943 ing, centrally located hollow boss I2.

I2 is of circular cross section and isslightly ta- Patented Apr. 17, 1945 UNITED fsTATEs PATE-NT ,oFiucE- Miner, Inc.,

ware Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Dela- Applicationseptember 24, .1343, serial No. 503,604

(ci.v 337-9) v 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in shock absorbers, especially` adapted for usein connection with truck springs of railway cars for snubbing or dampening the action of the springs. i One object of the invention is to provide a shock absorber of the'character indicatedcom-` prising a friction casing and a spring resisted clutch slidable within vthe casing, wherein the clutch is composed 4of a central wedge block and shoes surrounding said block andthe wedge has a stem formed integral therewith for anchoring the wedge to the casing, thereby holding theparts of the mechanism assembled.

A more specic object of `the invention is to provide a friction shock absorber, as described in the preceding paragraph, wherein the stein of the wedge has -a T-head adapted to be interlocked with holding means onthe casing by giving-the wedge a partial turn about its axis and wherein the wedge is held against accidental rotation and disengagement from the casing by the'cooperating engaging wedge lfaces of the shoes and wedge.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawing forming a part of this specication, Figure 1 is a transverse, vertical, sectional View of the improved shock absorber, the

section being on two intersecting planes atan spectively to the lines 2--2 and 3-3 ofv Figure 1. As shown in said drawing, my improved shock absorber comprises broadly a casing A; a wedge B; three friction shoes C--C-C; and a spring resistance D.

The casing A is of substantially hexagonal interior' and exterior cross section having a friction shell section I at the top end thereof. l The casing A is closed atv the bottom end by a transverse wall II provided with an inwardly extend- The boss pered inwardly of the casing, as shown most clearly in Figure 1, and has a transversewall I3 at its inner end.` The wall I3 is provided with an opening I4 therethrough which is in the form of a slot. As shown most clearly in Figure 2, .the opening or slot I4 is laterally elongated, having substantially straight side walls I5-I5 and roundedend walls I6- I 6. The rounded end walls are coincidentwith the curvedr side walls of the boss i I Zat the inner end of the latter.

The friction shell section of the casing. A is tion surfaces I'I'-II which converge inwardly of ythe casing and are spaced symmetrically about `4faces of which are angularlydisposedwith reference to each other, thereby providing three pairs of surfaces, the adjacent members of each pair together forming a friction face of V-shaped transverse cross section.

The'wedge Bhas an outer section I8 in the form of a hollow block, and an inner shank or Stem vprovided lwith six interior, lsubstantially flat fric-55 section I9 by which it is anchored to thecasing block I8, has three inwardly converging, fiat wedge'faces 20 at its inner end adapted to cooperate with the shoes C--C-C. At thev outer end, the block I8 is provided with an outstanding lateral flange 2I, which is continuous around the block.A The lflange 2I overhangs the side walls of the casing, as clearly shown in Figure 1, and is adaptedto engage the end of the casing to limit inward movement of the wedge andcompression of the mechanism. y

The shank or stem section is of substantially cylindrical, transverse cross section and extends downwardly from the section I8 of the wedge. At the lower end the shank or stem I9 is provided with a T -head 22-of the cross section shown in Figure 2. .The head 422 is of oblong shape hav ing rounded endsr similar to the .opening I4 and is of such a size as tov pass freely throughsaid opening when alignedtherewith, but will not pass Y therethrough when rotated through an are of ldegrees or to the position shown in Figure 2. As

willl be seen, when theL parts are in the position shown in `Figures 1 and 2, the wedge B is securely i anchored to the casing A byA engagement of the T-head 22 of the stem I9 with the underneath side of the wall I3 of the boss I2.

The friction shoes C,-C-C, -which are three in number,y are interposedbetween the wedge B and the interior friction surfaces .I1-I1 of the casing,` and together with the wed-ge form a. friction clutch. yEachshoe has a friction surface 23 on the' outer side thereof of V-shaped, .transverse f ments 25 on said shoes, said enlargements presenting flat transverse end faces 26 forming albutments for the top end of the spring resistance D.

The spring resistance D comprises a single coil which is contracted slightly at its upper end, as shown in Figure l. The bottom end of the spring surrounds the boss l2 and bears on the inner side of the end wall H of the casing. The upper end of the spring zbears on the abutment faces 26 of the shoes C.

In assembling the mechanism, the spring resistance D and the shoes C-C-C are rst placed within the casing by inserting these parts through the open front end of said casing. With the casing standing on end, the shoes are orced inwardly to a predetermined extent and held in that position while assembling the wedge B with the casing. The predetermined position `referred to is such that the Wedge faces of the wedge will clear the wedge faces of the shoes when the wedge is lpassed into the 'casing to an extent to engage the T-iheadof ithe-shank 119 inbackof "the Wall I 3 lof l'theboss "ft2, `thatis, aposition in which the `wedge may be rotated about itsairis without interference by 'the shoes. While the shoes are so held, the wedge is inserted 'in position, with the Tehead of the shank thereofaligned with"the opening T4 of thebo'ss I`2. A'ft'er'the T-head lhas 'been passed through the opening H, 'the wedge is turned about its axis 'through'an angle 'of 90 degrees, `bringing the T-'head into looking "postionin back ofthe wall i3. The pressure 'is then released 'from the shoes AC'C-'C, permitting the spring to project the same outwardly into Wedg- 'ing contact with lthe Wedge faces ofthe wed'g'eB.

shock absorber is held in position by the usual" `centering projections i on `.the 'spring"followerplates which 'engage withinfthe openingbf thewe'dge B andthe hollow bossl2 oflthe casing A.

In the operation yof my improved shock absorber, Lupon the :spring yIcluster Iof the ftruc-k of the car bein'gcompressed Abetween tliespringtfollower plates, `the lwedge iB :is forced inwardly rof the casing A,-sprea'din'g theshoesfC-'-lC-C apart Aand iorcin-g them -:inwardly of the Leasing v"along the `friction surfaces thereof Aagainst the resst- :ance of the lspring "D. Frictional resistance will be thus producedto snub v'the action o'fl'the truck springs. Upon expansion'oflthelcei-ls of the 'truck `springs, the 4truck Ispring followers are moved apart, permitting the spring D ito expand Sand return the 4parts of the "shock absorber 'to `the normal release position shown `in lFigi-1re #1, outward movement-of the Wedge Bbeinglimi-tediby consider 'the "preferred 'manner of "carrying out my invention, `but `the `'same is merely illustrative and Il contemplate all changes "and "modin'cations that come within the scope or the `claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a shock absorber, the combination with a casing open at one end and closed by a transverse wall at the other end; of a friction clutch telescoped within the casing, said clutch including a Wedge member and friction shoes in Wedging engagement With each other; an inwardly 1proj ecting stem `on said Wedge, rintegral therewith, said stem having shouldered engagement with the transverse Wall of the casing to limit outward l movement of said wedge; and spring means within the casing opposing relative movement of the clutchand casing.

2. In a shock absorber, the combination with .a casing openatone end and closed by a transverse wall at the other end, said wall having an opening therethrough, said opening being elongated lin itransversedirection; of a friction clutch .telescoped Within the casing, said clutch inc1ud` ing a wedge member and friction shoes in Wedgclutch.

3. In a shock absorber, thecomb'ination -with a `casing open at one endend closedby atransverse -wall `at *the other end, said transverse wall having 'an vopening therethrough, "said opening being elongated in transverse direction; of -a Wedge block, saidblockhaving astem inwardly projecting therefrom, :said Vstern having Va 'transversely elongated. lheadl'extending crosswise'of said openling and `engaging `said transverse -wall to 'anchor the '-Wedg'e 2to `said casing, said l'head' being of 'a size to pass "freely `through said "opening-when registered therewith by rotation' of vsaid Wedge about its longitudinal axis; friction shoes surrounding saidwedge and in sliding ifrictionalengagement vwith the interior Walls 'of the casing, said wedge and shoes having ucooperating wedge faces; and fa spring `Within theA 'casing yieldingly 'opposing inward movementoi'sai'd shoes.

Ll. In 'a 4shock absorber, the combination 'with abasin'g open atene end and "closed at ltheother end by a Vtransverse wa'll,"said Wallfhaving an opening therethrough, said opening :being elon- -lg-ated `in V'transverse direction; of a wedge Lblock, said block having a stem inwardly 'projecting therefrom, "said stem having 'a' transversely elongated head` extending l"crosswise -'of said Y"opening and having-shoulderedengagemeritiwithsaid wall to 'ancho-r the 'Wedge )to the lcasing, #sai-d head "being "of a ysize to pass freely through said 'opening Iwhen registered *therewith 'by Vrotation of :sa-id wedge "about its longitudinal ax-is; 'friction 'shoes vsurrounding said Wedge, AAsaid `shoes lihavin'g -sli'ding iri'ctiorral lengagement with vthe interior `vof the "casingpsa'i'd wedge and'shoes lhaving"vk/edging engagement on flat jfaces; v--an'd`spring means 'within Vthe casing yielding-ly Y'opposing inward movement of said shoes:

LIn a shock absorber, the combinationiwith a `'casing open 'at one end and closed by Jafi-trans- "verse 'wall at V'the -other end, 'said wail 'fhaving la slotted openingaextending--therethroughfsaidicas- 'ing having 'inwardly feonverging; flat, interior 'friction surfaces; lo'f a plurality-of l"-fr'i'c'xt'ionshoves having fiat friction surfaces engaging the flat surl faces of the casing, said shoes having flatwedge ing*` having inwardly converging, interior, friction y surfacesof V-shaped, transverse cross section; of a plurality of friction shoes having friction Y surfaces of V-shaped transverse crosssection ening Ya transversely elongated head extending crosswise of said slot and in shouldered engagement with said transverse wall of the casing to, anchor the Wedge to the casing, said elongated head being of a size to pass'through said slot when the wedge is rotated on its axis to align said elongated head with said slot; and spring means within the casing opposing inward movement of said shoes. y

6. In a shock absorber, the combination with a casing open'at one end and closed by a transverse Wall at the other end, said wall having a slotted opening extending therethrough, said casl-,\- za.gir1`g the V-shaped surfaces of the casing, said lshoes having flat wedge faces on the inner sides Y thereof converging inwardly of the `casing; a wedge block having at, inwardly converging Wedge faces in wedging engagement with the flat wedge faces of the shoes; an inwardly projecting shank on said wedge havinga transversely elongated head extending crosswise of said` slot and in shouldered engagement with said transverse wall of the casing to'anchor the wedge to the casing, said elongated head. being of la size to -pass through said slot when the wedge is e rotated on its axis to alignr said elongated head with said slot; and spring means within the casing opposing inward movement of said shoes. i

GEORGE E. DATH. t 

